Timmy Jernigan Scouting Report

Continuing my series of scouting reports for Cowboys prospects, I am moving on to another DT. The way I see it, the Cowboys need a DE, DT and a guard in the 1st three rounds. Timmy Jernigan is an elite athlete who was the anchor of the 2013 National Champion Florida State Seminoles’ defensive line.

Timmy Jernigan, DT

Height|Weight: 6-2 298

College: Florida State

40 time: 4.98

Grade: 87.5 |Round: 1-2

2013: Timmy Jernigan had a colorful Junior season. He led Florida State with 11 tackles for loss . Timmy Jernigan finished the season with 63 tackles, including 4.5 sacks and was a second-team AP All-American. First Team All-American, First Team All-Acc as voted by the coaches, and an ACC and BCS National Champion.

Timmy Jernigan announced on January 9, 2014 that he would forgo his senior season and enter the 2014 NFL Draft

Official Seminoles Team Bio

2012: Started two games and played in 13 games…ranked fourth on FSU in tackles for loss with eight…one of the leading tacklers on the team with 46…recorded starts against Murray State and Savannah State…recorded multiple tackles in 12 of his 13 games played…finished the season strong recording 22 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack in his final four games…arguably the Seminoles’ MVP in the ACC Championship Game where he recorded the team’s only sack, was second on the squad with 1.5 TFL and was third on the team with nine tackles…either set or tied a career high in tackles and sacks in the game versus Georgia Tech…set single season career bests for tackles and tackles for loss…helped Florida State’s defense lead the nation in yards allowed per play (3.86), rank second nationally in total defense (254.14 ypg) and rank in the top six nationally in scoring defense (14.71 ppg) and rushing defense (92.29 ypg).

2011: True freshman defensive tackle out of Lake City, Fla. who provided the Seminoles with a huge lift in a reserve role…earned first team Freshman All-America honors from several national outlets…was the only true freshman to see action on defense in all 13 games…led all FSU interior defensive linemen with 30 tackles and led his position group with six tackles for loss and 2.5 quarterback sacks…credited with three quarterback hurries and also had a 12-yard fumble return to his credit…posted a career-high five tackles in FSU’s win over NC State, when he registered two tackles for loss – including a sack – and a fumble return…Jernigan’s performance against the Wolfpack earned him ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors…also turned in a four-tackle performances against Charleston Southern and Clemson…posted his first two tackles for loss and first career sack against Charleston Southern…named winner of the Devaughn Darling Award given to the top newcomer on defense at the team’s annual banquet.

PERSONAL: Five-star defensive lineman, who was ranked No. 4 at defensive tackle in the nation by Scout.com…recorded 14 sacks as a senior at Columbia…listed as a four-star prospect ranked as the No. 2 defensive tackle by Rivals.com…ranked No. 29 in the Final Rivals 100…recorded 77 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 14 sacks and one interception and also ran for four touchdowns on offense as a senior in 2010…2011 U.S. Army All-American…All-USA First-Team defense by USA Today…rated a four-star prospect, No. 2 defensive lineman and No. 17 overall player on the ESPNU 150…No. 6 on the Gainesville Sun’s Florida Top 50 Seniors…named to the 2010 All-First Coast First Team Defense by the Florida Times-Union…member of the Times-Union’s Super 75 where he was rated as the No. 1 defensive tackle…No. 8 on the SuperPrep Florida 110 and No. 35 on the SuperPrep Elite 50…No. 5 on Bill Buchalter’s 2011 Florida Top 100 for the Orlando Sentinel…No. 9 on Mobile Press-Register Super Southeast 120…No. 41 on Tom Lemming’s MaxPreps.com 2011 Top 100…registered 131 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries and was a 3A All-State selection as a junior and a sophomore…selected the Seminoles over LSU, Alabama, Tennessee and Florida…born September 24, 1992.

Film Study

Timmy Jernigan is a prototypical 3 tech at the NFL level despite playing mostly the one tech in college: mainly because of his size. He is versatile because he has experience playing the 0, 1, and 3 technique.

Timmy Jernigan exhibits elite athleticism and quickness for a 300 pounder. He has fluid hips, good feet, and moves well laterally up and down the line. He has good balance and plays with a decent pad level most of the time.

Timmy Jernigan has excellent upper body strength and powerful legs. On more than one occasion I saw him literally throw offensive linemen to the ground. He has a good bull rush and even when he is being double teamed, he keeps driving with his legs and pushes the pocket back.

Timmy Jernigan has quick viloent hands and he knows how to use them pretty well for a junior, but there is still a learning curve there when it comes to his technique. He hasn’t even come close to his potential yet. He uses his quick feet to side step blockers and collapse the gap.

Timmy Jernigan Demonstrates an excellent swim move and can give linemen fits. Any time you have a 300 pound pass rusher who runs a sub five 40 he can raise havoc in the backfield. He plays with good awareness and does a nice job of tracking the play. Once he beats his man he does a good job of getting up the field and disrupting the quarterback.

Timmy Jernigan anchors well when taking on multiple blockers and plays with elite power at the point. He does a decent job of splitting the double team and has a non stop motor. One of his best traits, is he never gives up on the play even when it’s obvious he wont get there in time.

Timmy Jernigan is a smart player and whether he is going through the opponent or around him, it seems he always has an edge. He does a nice job of keeping his hands inside when defending the run.

Timmy Jernigan creates constant pressure in the middle. He has good stack and shed ability. He uses his quickness to get around guards, but at times he over extends with either his arms or his entire body.

Timmy Jernigan is more times than not too slow off of the snap and needs to work on his snap anticipation. He is still developing against the run. There are times when he tackles too high and tries to wrestle the ball carrier to the ground with brute strength rather than taking out his center of gravity with proper tackling technique. My biggest red flag is his torn MCL and Miniscus damage he received in 2012. Knee injuries usually come back to hauntÃ‚Â guys in the trenches because they have to utilize their legs so much for leverage.

Overall, Timmy Jernigan is a solid defensive tackle prospect who is still developing his technique. I don’t see any problem with him being a dominant force in the NFL providing he can stay healthy.

Honestly he sounds good, but injury concerns me, but it wasn’t recurring, so it may be ok. But he wasn’t injured this year, so that is a red flag to Jerry. Jerry only gives a thumbs up if he got hurt the year, he comes out for the draft.

Just my opinion you don’t have to agree, but I would like to go interior of the lines this year. G and DT. For me personally I think that DT and OG and C are more important, simply because they hold everything together. The Saints had two of the top G a few years ago, and Brees was one of the least sacked QB. I really like the combo of Suh and Fairley in Detroit. So if it could happen, I would like Hageman then Jernigan, and have two really good DT.

You wouldn’t get any complaints from me there and use a later round pick on a DE

californy

I like this DT best over all the one you featured . He the kind of player you have to account for when he is on the field. I do like his tackle production in college.

californy

I’m still not sold on this year weak class of DE and dL. I know we need to draft some but I also like to develope some depth at DL by getting the biggest Blocking TE and moving them to DE. I would also like to see us get some road grader OG and OT and put them as DT. There are plenty of player on college team who are 6-3 and weight 320-340 lbs who as OL has better stamina than the dL that get rotated in

Gabriel Carrasco

Only problem aside from injury is the bowl game. Jernigan was rotating in and out on the final drive for Auburn. He was tired out. Now he really impacted the game, but I see that as a negative, because that is when they needed him most in the game. Other than that and injury (not recurring) not too many negatives.

osnappp

U must of missed the national championship game, guy has no character, took himself out of the game during the two most important drives because he was tired..”in the national championship game!” Then he comes back in and just stands there when he could of ended the game. So u can omit the part of him never giving up and the nonstop motor,..let the bears take him. Hes a bumb

osnappp

Saying all that the guy could be a deal in the bottom part of 2nd round, would be a wasted pick any higher

I watched his tape against Pit, NC, Fl and Boston College. FYI I am doing reports on many players, my mock will say who I actually want for the boys and which round

osnappp

really watch that game though. for one, it was a great game. Graduating from fsu, I was extra happy. But watch this guy in the fourth quarter. I don’t think I’ve ever watch something so maddening in my life.

More times than not, I end up finding mid to late round picks that do better than some of the top ranked guys. I have a lot of players to study over the next 4 months.

osnappp

That is great! U get to compare them up close. If u get an interview, ask him what happened. Seeing a guy completely give up in the biggest game of his life would be a hard question to ask, but I’m sure he will get that question a lot, also I’m a big believer in late round guys, they have more to prove, less expectations, maybe needed more time to develope, but mostly the wil and drive to be great usually wins over raw talent, exp: emmitt smith and jerry rice

I have had more of my the guys no one is talking about become starters than JJ draft picks give me the hungry guy every time

osnappp

I will admit you were right about Vontaze Burfict. everyone but you thought he was a bust. he had 171 tackles this year. That is one more tackle than the cowboys entire starting defensive line..ware, hatcher, selvie and hayden had 170.

my biggest problem with him is the knee issue and that could very well be why he was sitting out. A full season could have taken it’s toll on it

Johnathan Nguyen

CAS, you should do an article on this kid Aaron Donald. This kid is fast becoming my pet cat for this year and I’m thinking we can probably get him in the second. He doesn’t have to size but I’m thinking he has the speed and very disruptive. He is exactly what Marinelli needs on the line.

Lionone1

Dallas could use a 3 tech if they could get him late. I would just worry about his injury, you know given their injuries on defense lately. I couldn’t handle another year of Dallas being at the mercy of the defense. Nothing you can do about injuries except have a lot of depth. I’m glad Marinelli and Kif will be around for this draft

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